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Brown targets 'family finances' Brown sets out future programme
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said that helping family finances was his "immediate priority" as he outlined his legislative programme for next year. Prime Minister Gordon Brown outlined reforms on schools, hospitals and law and order as he set out his legislative programme for next Parliamentary year.
He pledged help for first-time buyers, a savings scheme for the low paid and flexible working rights for parents. He pledged help for housebuyers, a savings scheme for low earners and new rights for workers to request training.
Employees will also get the right to ask for training and hospital funding will be linked to performance. Hospital funding will also be linked to performance, and a system of elected police chiefs brought in as well.
The Tories said Mr Brown had "run out of steam". The Lib Dems said he had "scraped the barrel to save himself". The Tories said he had "run out of steam". The Lib Dems said he had "scraped the barrel to save himself".
Mr Brown was making his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election in Crewe and Nantwich - seen as crucial to Labour's prospects of recovery after dire local election results. Mr Brown made his statement to MPs ahead of next week's by-election in Crewe and Nantwich - seen as crucial to Labour's prospects of recovery after dire local election results.
It comes after Tuesday's surprise £2.7bn tax cut designed to head off a backbench rebellion over the abolition of the 10p tax cut - dubbed by the Conservatives an "exercise in political survival".It comes after Tuesday's surprise £2.7bn tax cut designed to head off a backbench rebellion over the abolition of the 10p tax cut - dubbed by the Conservatives an "exercise in political survival".
KEY PARTS OF PLANS £200m to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants£100m for shared equity schemes to help first-time buyers purchase new-build homesParents' councils to help run schoolsMore accountable chief constablesProtection for depositors in the event of future bank collapsesHelp for first-time buyersExtension of flexible working to parents with older childrenJobless skills and training assessmentsTests for immigrantsSeas and shores protection, plus review into last year's floods implementedLords reform, party funding reform and consultation on Bill of Rights Analysis: Brown's fight back In full: All the planned billsKEY PARTS OF PLANS £200m to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants£100m for shared equity schemes to help first-time buyers purchase new-build homesParents' councils to help run schoolsMore accountable chief constablesProtection for depositors in the event of future bank collapsesHelp for first-time buyersExtension of flexible working to parents with older childrenJobless skills and training assessmentsTests for immigrantsSeas and shores protection, plus review into last year's floods implementedLords reform, party funding reform and consultation on Bill of Rights Analysis: Brown's fight back In full: All the planned bills
But with rising inflation and ministers predicting a 10% drop in house prices this year, Mr Brown was under pressure to shore up the economy and prove his government has not run out of ideas.But with rising inflation and ministers predicting a 10% drop in house prices this year, Mr Brown was under pressure to shore up the economy and prove his government has not run out of ideas.
In his now annual Commons statement on the government's programme for the next Parliamentary session - effectively a preview of November's Queen's Speech - he also mentioned immediate measures to boost the housing market. His Commons statement on the government's programme for the next Parliamentary session was effectively a preview of November's Queen's Speech.
He announced a £200m fund to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants or make them available on a shared ownership basis.He announced a £200m fund to buy unsold new homes and rent them to social tenants or make them available on a shared ownership basis.
An additional £100m would be also made available to shared equity schemes to help more first-time buyers to purchase newly-built homes on the open market.An additional £100m would be also made available to shared equity schemes to help more first-time buyers to purchase newly-built homes on the open market.
A Banking Bill, introduced in the wake of the crisis over Northern Rock, would bolster protection for depositors against future bank collapses.A Banking Bill, introduced in the wake of the crisis over Northern Rock, would bolster protection for depositors against future bank collapses.
A national savings scheme would be created for eight million people on low incomes, with each pound saved matched with a contribution from government.A national savings scheme would be created for eight million people on low incomes, with each pound saved matched with a contribution from government.
I've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you? Nick CleggLib Dem leaderI've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you? Nick CleggLib Dem leader
Schools would be made more accountable to parents through the first independent qualifications system and guarantee the highest standards.Schools would be made more accountable to parents through the first independent qualifications system and guarantee the highest standards.
Labour MPs cheered as Mr Brown said the right of flexible working will be extended to parents with older children from next April, along with new rights for agency workers.Labour MPs cheered as Mr Brown said the right of flexible working will be extended to parents with older children from next April, along with new rights for agency workers.
Police reformsPolice reforms
There will be a police reform bill, with chief constables will be made accountable to a directly elected representative. There will be a police reform bill, with chief constables being made accountable to a directly elected representative.
There may also be moves to introduce different degrees of homicide including provocation, diminished responsibility, complicity and infanticide - subject to consultation.There may also be moves to introduce different degrees of homicide including provocation, diminished responsibility, complicity and infanticide - subject to consultation.
And a new Sentencing Commission to monitor the size of prison populations.And a new Sentencing Commission to monitor the size of prison populations.
HAVE YOUR SAY A last ditch attempt to save their skins, only prompted by the dismal recent elections Richard Bown Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY A last ditch attempt to save their skins, only prompted by the dismal recent elections Richard Bown Send us your comments
A bill to introduce a new national coroners service with full-time coroners and a right of appeal for families is also planned.A bill to introduce a new national coroners service with full-time coroners and a right of appeal for families is also planned.
Tests for immigrants to receive British citizenship are to be made tougher, with newcomers expected to learn English and prove they are making an economic contribution.Tests for immigrants to receive British citizenship are to be made tougher, with newcomers expected to learn English and prove they are making an economic contribution.
Hospital funding will be linked to performance in England by using patient experience to measure quality of care and an NHS constitution established to set out the standards patients can expect.Hospital funding will be linked to performance in England by using patient experience to measure quality of care and an NHS constitution established to set out the standards patients can expect.
'Desperate week''Desperate week'
The long-term unemployed will be forced to retrain or face having their benefits cut under a Welfare Reform Bill.The long-term unemployed will be forced to retrain or face having their benefits cut under a Welfare Reform Bill.
Mr Cameron said he welcomed many of the measures, as his party had proposed them in the first place.Mr Cameron said he welcomed many of the measures, as his party had proposed them in the first place.
"This Queen's Speech has nothing to do with the long-term needs of the country and everything to do with your short term political survival," he told Mr Brown."This Queen's Speech has nothing to do with the long-term needs of the country and everything to do with your short term political survival," he told Mr Brown.
"We need a government that tackles the underlying causes of poverty, that fights family breakdown, that breaks open the monopoly of state education - we need a government that can work with the voluntary sector."We need a government that tackles the underlying causes of poverty, that fights family breakdown, that breaks open the monopoly of state education - we need a government that can work with the voluntary sector.
"You can't do that and we can.""You can't do that and we can."
Lid Dem leader Nick Clegg said Mr Brown had faced "a desperate week", with early announcements on the 10p tax rate and "a rag bag of proposals" in the draft Queen's speech.Lid Dem leader Nick Clegg said Mr Brown had faced "a desperate week", with early announcements on the 10p tax rate and "a rag bag of proposals" in the draft Queen's speech.
"I've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you?""I've no idea what we can expect you to bring forward next - Christmas? How desperate are you?"
Critics say Mr Brown's decision to preview the government's programme diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November.Critics say Mr Brown's decision to preview the government's programme diminishes the role of the monarch and the relevance of the State Opening of Parliament in November.
But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech.But the government says it is appropriate to announce proposed measures earlier to allow consultation over the summer, resulting in a more concrete Queen's Speech.